Graduate Program

Potential Projects

Evolutionary Ecology of Sexual Reproduction Research Group

The following Projects are based in the Brooks lab and may include cosupervision with or at UNSW or colleagues overseas. We are looking for honours and PhD students interested in evolution, ecology and/or behaviour.Our research has both laboratory and field components.We use a variety of insect and fish species that are well suited to experimental work, although opportunities exist to work on other vertebrate and invertebrate groups as well as on humans.

• Mate choice and life-histories
• Evolutionary biology of ageing and physiological performance
• Behavioural evolution
• The intra-genomic conflict that arises from sex-dependent selection
• Ecological and evolutionary genetics/genomics
• Sexual selection and sexual conflict
• Using computer graphic animations to study human attractiveness
• Measuring selection on complex suites of traits in any organism
• The interaction between conservation and mating systems

Research Projects in the Bonduriansky Lab
Our research focuses on the causes and consequences of sexual selection and conflict at genetic and phenotypic levels, and the evolution and expression of ageing. Our main study system is the giant stilt-legged flies of Australia (Family: Neriidae; Genus: Telostylinus). These flies occur along the east coast, with one species in NSW and another in tropical North-Queensland. We also maintain laboratory populations of each species for experiments.

• Sexual conflict and sexual dimorphism in body size and shape in flies
• Effects of phenotype and environment on ageing
• Parental age effects on offspring phenotype and fitness
• Sexual behaviour and sexual selection in flies (lab and field projects)
• Condition dependence, and condition transfer across generations
• Karyotype and sex-determination in Telostylinus flies

Experimental Marine Ecology and Evolution
Projects in the laboratory of Dr Alistair Poore and Dr Emma Johnston involve the use of manipulative experiments to understand ecological and evolutionary processes in marine ecosystems. We are interested in supervising students that have interests in marine ecology, evolution, toxicology and environmental impacts.

• Evolutionary ecotoxicology 1: How do animals adapt to toxicants?
• Evolutionary ecotoxicology 2: How does contamination affect sexual dimorphism?
  (with Russell Bonduriansky)
• Effects of habitat change on biodiversity
• Nutritional ecology of marine herbivores
• How much damage can a plant tolerate?
  (with Steve Bonser)
• How does plant structure affect animal communities?
• Contemporary ecological threats from historical pollution events
  
• Invasion resistance: assessing the role of disturbance and diversity

Research Projects in Behaviour and Evolution
There are a number of projects available with Terry Ord. Topics include the evolution of animal communication, behavioural adaptations to major ecological transitions, genetic differentiation and 'neutral' change in behaviour, the role of phenotypic plasticity in macroevolution and others. Please see the Ord Lab page for details.